Robert Browning, 1812–1889

Biographical note

Poet, only son of Robert Browning, a man of fine intellect and equally fine character, who held a position in the
Bank of England, was born in Camberwell. His mother, to whom he was ardently attached, was the daughter of a German
shipowner who had settled in Dundee, and was alike intellectually and morally worthy of his affection. The only other
member of the family was a younger sister, also highly gifted, who was the sympathetic companion of his later years. In
his childhood he was distinguished by his love of poetry and natural history.

At 12 he had written a book of poetry which he destroyed when he could not find a publisher. After being at one or
two private schools, and showing an insuperable dislike to school life, he was educated by a tutor, and thereafter
studied Greek at University College, London. Through his mother he inherited some musical talent, and composed
settings, for various songs. His first published was Pauline, which appeared anonymously in 1833, but
attracted little attention.

In 1834 he paid his first visit to Italy, in which so much of his future life was to be passed. The publication of
Paracelsus in 1835, though the poem had no general popularity, gained the notice of Carlyle, Wordsworth, and
other men of letters, and gave him a reputation as a poet of distinguished promise.

Two years later his drama of Stratford was performed by his friend Macready and Helen Faucit, and in 1840
the most difficult and obscure of his works, Sordello, appeared; but, except with a select few, did little to
increase his reputation. It was followed by Bells and Pomegranates (containing Pippa Passes) [1841],
A Blot in the ‘Scutcheon (drama) [1843], Luria and A Soul’s Tragedy [1846].

In this year he married Miss Elizabeth Barrett, the poetess, a union of ideal happiness. Thereafter his home until
his wife’s death in 1861 was in Italy, chiefly at Florence. In 1850 he wrote Christmas Eve and Easter Day, and
in 1855 appeared Men and Women. After the death of Mrs. Browning he returned to England, paying, however,
frequent visits to Italy. Settling in London he published successively Dramatis Personæ [1864], The Ring
and the Book (1868–69), his greatest work, Balaustion’s Adventure, and Prince
Hohenstiel–Schwangau [1871], Fifine at the Fair [1872], Red Cotton Night-cap Country [1873],
The Inn Album [1875], Pacchiarotto [1876], translation of Agamemnon [1879], La
Saisiaz, etc. [1878], Dramatic Idylls (1879 and 1880), Asolando [1889] appeared on the day of
his death.

To the great majority of readers, probably, Browning is best known by some of his short poems, such as, to name a
few, “Rabbi Ben Ezra,” “How they brought the good News to Aix,” “Evelyn Hope,” “The Pied Piper of Hammelin,” “A
Grammarian’s Funeral,” “A Death in the Desert.” It was long before England recognised that in Browning she had received
one of the greatest of her poets, and the causes of this lie on the surface. His subjects were often recondite and lay
beyond the ken and sympathy of the great bulk of readers; and owing, partly to the subtle links connecting the ideas
and partly to his often extremely condensed and rugged expression, the treatment of them was not seldom difficult and
obscure. Consequently for long he appealed to a somewhat narrow circle. As time went on, however, and work after work
was added, the circle widened, and the marvellous depth and variety of thought and intensity of feeling told with
increasing force. Societies began to be formed for the study of the poet’s work. Critics became more and more
appreciative, and he at last reaped the harvest of admiration and honour which was his due. Many distinctions came to
him. He was made LL.D. of Edinburgh, a life Governor of London University, and had the offer of the Lord
Rectorship of Glasgow. He died in the house of his son at Venice, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. The keynote of
his teaching is a wise and noble optimism. His poems were collected in 2 vols. in 1896. Some vols. of his
correspondence with Mrs. Browning were also published